Helen Klisser During (r), artistic director of the Westport Arts Center who has announced her resignation effective Dec. 1, thanks the founding members of the Westport Artists’ Collective for their work and for organizing tonight’s pop up art show with more than 100 works displayed. They are (l-r) Jahmane West, Tammy Winser, Miggs Burroughs, Duvian Montoya, and Nina Bentley. Several hundred persons turned out out for the opening reception. The show continues until Sunday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

By Susan Granger

James Vanderbilt’s “Truth” examines the scandal that erupted after “CBS Evening News” anchor Dan Rather ran a “60 Minutes” segment asserting that President George W. Bush used family connections to avoid combat in Vietnam and never fulfilled his tenure in the Texas Air National Guard.

If this report had not been subsequently discredited, it might have tipped the 2004 Presidential election to Democrat John Kerry.

When I studied journalism at Mills College under Pierre Salinger, working at the “San Francisco Chronicle,” he insisted that the veracity of controversial stories be corroborated by two independent sources. But what if those sources lie?

That’s what happened to Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett), Rather’s (Robert Redford) longtime producer. Responsible for finding and scrutinizing on-air pieces, Mapes is curious about the Bush allegations.  Encouraged by CBS News president Andrew Heyward (Bruce Greenwood), she begins to investigate.

A special exhibition by the Westport Artists’ Collective pops up Thursday through Sunday at the Westport Arts Center. The opening reception will take place from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m Thursday. Pictured are collective founders (l-r) Helen Klisser During, WAC artistic director, Jahmane West, Tammy Winser, Nina Bentley, and Duvian Montoya. (Missing is founder Miggs Burroughs)  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Marina White for WestportNow.com

This work, “Created Pages,” by Duvian Montoya is among about 100 on sale in the Westport Artists Collective pop up art show Thursday through Sunday at the Westport Arts Center. It opens Thursday with a 6 to 8 p.m. reception. Montoya is one of the “toasters,” the nickname for founders of the Collective. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The Staples Players are getting ready for their production for the first time in 20 years of “Fiddler on the Roof.” The Tony Award-winning musical, which recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Broadway premier, is director David Roth’s 50th Players production. “[Associate Director] Kerry Long and I have thought about bringing Fiddler to the Staples stage for years,” said Roth.  “This year, given the striking parallels between current social issues and those explored in the show, the time felt right.” Evening performances are on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13, 14, 20, and 21 at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances are on Sunday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online with a credit card at http://www.StaplesPlayers.com/Tickets, or in the Staples High School lobby, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5 and 6, 12:30 to 2 p.m. by check/cash only. Tickets will also be sold at the door 30 minutes prior to each performance, subject to availability. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Discounted tickets for seniors at $10 are available for the matinees only. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Kerry Long

Clement and Catherine Onyemelukwe of Westport show Catherine’s book, “Nigeria Revisited: My Life and Loves Abroad,” following her talk to the Westport Rotary Club today. The book and her talk recounted their meeting in Nigeria where she went in 1962 as a 21-year-old Peace Corps volunteer and their controversial wedding there that became world news and a spread in Life Magazine. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Jen Durkin and the Business, a raucous funk heavy soul group, today performed the music of Bessie Smith and Janis Joplin at the Westport Arts Center. The group also performed some original music, which was heavily influenced by both Smith and Joplin. Jen “Pipes” Durkin was accompanied by Darian Cunning on guitar, Rich Zurkowski on bass, and Jen’s brother Johnny Durkin on drums. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Marina White for WestportNow.com